Storage and display container

ABSTRACT

A container has a bottom compartment, the bottom compartment having a product compartment and a display compartment, a lid arranged to cover the bottom compartment, and a window in the lid positioned to allow a user to view contents of the bottom compartment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/946,817 filed Dec. 11, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Product packaging can play a large part in the attractiveness and appeal of products. This may hold especially true with consumable products, where the consumer wants to see at least a representation of the original nature of the product they ingest. This may inform them about the quality and other characteristics of the product's original ingredients.

However, most product packages do not provide a convenient mechanism to provide both a container for a product and a display area, especially in portable or hand-held sizes. No product packages provide a product and display area in an easy to product, cost-effective format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a product package.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a product package.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a product package having a product compartment with a flap and a display compartment.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an empty product package having a product compartment with a product insert and a display compartment.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an empty product package having a product compartment and a display compartment.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an empty product package having a product compartment and a display compartment with a display insert.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a layout to allow all components of a product package to be cut from a single piece of material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments here involve a carton or package for storing and displaying products. While the embodiments here relate to consumable products such as pre-rolls of cannabis products and a display compartment used to provide a representative bud or flower used in the pre-rolls, the discussion is not intended to be limited to those products nor should any such limitation be implied. Any product could be packaged in the product compartment of the package and any representative sample or other item, such a promotional items not related to the product could reside in the display compartment. No limitation to cannabis products, smoking products, or edible or consumable products, is intended and should not be implied.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the package 10 in its closed state. In this discussion, the terms “package,” “container” or “carton” all refer to the complete item 10 shown in FIG. 1, whether it contains any of the optional items discussed below or not. The package has a display window 16 that allows a consumer to view whatever lies in the bottom compartment, discussed in more detail later. The window may reside in the lid adjacent the display compartment or the product compartment. The display and product compartments may have a divider to separate them, or may just be regions of the bottom compartment.

In this embodiment, the package is held closed by a folded lid, also discussed later, with a slidable sleeve 12 that slides over the package and holds the lid in place. Any other type of closure could be used, including hook and loop closure attachments on the inside of the lid flap that mate with similar attachments on the side of the bottom compartment, magnets, sticky or gummy surfaces, string, insertable tabs, etc. No limitation to any particular closure is intended nor should any be implied.

The sliding sleeve has an advantage in that it provides a printable surface on which the producer can provide information about the contents of the package, including product specifics, weight, expiration dates, sources of product, etc. FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the closure 12.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show interior views of embodiments of a display and storage container. FIG. 3 shows an open package. In one embodiment the user slides the sleeve 12 off the package and lifts the lid 14. In other embodiments, with other closures the user may open the package differently. Similarly, while the embodiments here show the lid 14 as having protruding short and long sides that contact and cover the short and long sides of the bottom compartment 18, it may have a different configuration. For example, only the long side of the lid may protrude to cover and contact the front side of the bottom compartment, with the sides of the lid just resting flush on the bottom compartment, etc. The bottom compartment 18, in this embodiment has two further compartments. A product compartment 22, shown here covered by a flap 20, resides next to the display compartment 24, which in this embodiment is inset into the display compartment holder 28. The display compartment holder 28 may act as a divider between the product compartment and the display compartment. The display compartment holder 28 and the flap 20 may both be part of a bottom compartment insert 21 as will be discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 4 shows the package with the flap 20 lifted to show the interior of one embodiment of the product compartment 22. In this embodiment, the product compartment 22 has an insert 26 to hold product. In one embodiment, the product comprises pre-rolls that contain the same bud as that may be shown in the display compartment 24. As will be discussed in more detail further, the display compartment may hold any item, including extracts, tinctures, etc., as well as promotional materials such as pins, stickers, etc., folded instructions on the best way to use the product, a graphic or photograph, etc. The contents of the display compartment will be referred to here as the displayable item.

FIG. 4 also shows a view of an embodiment of product insert 26. In this particular embodiment, the product compartment insert 26 has a center ridge that extends almost to the height of the bottom compartment 18, which shallow regions on either side to hold the product. In one embodiment, the insert 26 is formed of one piece of packaging, separate from the rest of the container.

One should note that the product compartment insert 26 is optional, as is the display compartment holder 28. Some sort of divider between the two compartments would more than likely be desirable, but the product could reside side-by-side with the displayable item. In one embodiment, the bottom compartment would just comprise one compartment without any divider and the window would just display whatever is in the bottom compartment, such as a concentrate or extract. The display compartment comprises an area of the bottom compartment that contains a displayable item. Either the display compartment or the product compartment may be adjacent the window. Typically, the window will be positioned adjacent the display compartment through which the displayable item can be viewed if no divider is used.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the package without the insert 26. The product compartment 18 is empty except for the insert 21 that may form the flap 20 and the display compartment holder 28 acting as a divider and providing the display compartment 24. The insert 21 is removable and fits into the bottom compartment 18. Similarly, the entire bottom compartment 18 could be empty, with the display compartment holder also not in the bottom compartment. The product compartment and the display compartment could just comprise areas within the bottom compartment. The display compartment comprises an area of the bottom compartment adjacent the window through which the displayable item can be viewed if no divider is used.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the display compartment 24 has a display insert 30 that would provide a higher platform for the displayable item. For example, a flatter displayable item, such as a piece of shatter as an example, could be placed in the much shallower display compartment. This would allow shallower items to reside there without rattling or moving when the lid is closed. The shallower insert may also contain a sticker or other item when there were no products to be displayed.

As can be seen, many different options exist and are within the scope of the embodiments here. For example, the window 16 in the lid 14 may comprise a clear plastic or cellophane piece, while the display compartment 24 does not have a cover. One could add a clear cover to the display compartment 24 on the inside of the package as well. Further, one could eliminate the window in the lid, such that users would have to open the package to see the displayable component. The lid itself could be clear, making the entire lid the window and the region of the compartment where the displayable item would reside the display compartment. While this is within the scope of the invention as described here, it would seem to not offer as much an advantage as allowing the consumer to see the displayable item through the lid.

Similarly, in the embodiments here, the packaging material is a card stock, typically thicker than what most users are familiar with as printer paper, and may have varying weights. Card stock may also be referred to as cover stock or pasteboard. This is different than cardboard, which is thicker and much less flexible, and may also be corrugated. Card stock has an advantage in its foldability, allowing the package to be manufactured more easily. For example, a stack of card stock could be punched to from the cutout for the window, then processed to add the clear window covering, cut, scored and folded to form the entire package except for the product compartment insert. FIG. 7 shows an example of a flat piece of cardstock with the scoring lines for folding.

In FIG. 7 one can see that all of the various components of the carton can be cut from a single piece of material. A first, contiguous piece 40 shows a bottom of the carton body, having the bottom 42, and the lid 14. The bottom 42 and the lid 14 are separated by side 52. Side 52 along with side 54 form the bottom compartment of the package. The bottom of the package is formed of the piece 48 and the side 56 is folded to form an inner wall, along with 54 of the bottom compartment to form the long side of the bottom. Similarly, the long side of the lid is formed by sides 58 and 60 and 46 is the portion of the lid that folds into the lid. The lid 14 has a cutout for the window 16 that matches the cutout 62 in the lid fold 46.

To the right of the carton body 40 is the piece that forms the flap 20, bottom insert 22 and display compartment holder 28. This is again the bottom view of that piece. It would be turned over and folded to form the flap, display compartment holder and bottom insert. To provide proper orientation, text labels are given on the various components that match text labels in the previous figures.

To the top right of the figure is the product insert 26, and to the top left is an embodiment of the band 12.

Many materials may be used, including coated materials, such as coated paper, plastic, cardboard, cloth, etc. No limitation to any particular material is intended, nor should one be implied.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the attached claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a bottom compartment, the bottom compartment having a product compartment and a display compartment; a lid arranged to cover the bottom compartment; and a window in the lid positioned to allow a user to view contents of the bottom compartment.
 2. The container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a closure to maintain the lid in a closed position.
 3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the closure comprises one of a sliding sleeve, a sticky surface, a hook and loop closure, magnets, string, and insertable tabs.
 3. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid has protruding sides that contact and cover sides of the bottom compartment.
 4. The container as claimed claim 1, wherein the lid has a long side that covers a long front side of the bottom compartment.
 5. The container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a divider in the bottom compartment between the product compartment and the display compartment.
 6. The container as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a flap positioned to cover the bottom cover, the flap residing between the lid and the bottom compartment.
 7. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flap and the divider are from one piece of material having folds to form the divider and the flap.
 8. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window is positioned one of either adjacent the display compartment or adjacent the product compartment.
 9. The container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a product insert in the product compartment configured to hold product.
 10. The container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display insert configured to fit in the display compartment.
 11. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is formed of one contiguous piece of material that folds to form the container, the cardstock having a cut out to form the window.
 12. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container comprises of one of cardstock, pasteboard, coated materials, paper, plastic, or cloth.
 13. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window comprises one of cellophane or plastic.
 14. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a clear material and the window comprises a region of the lid.
 15. A container comprising: a bottom compartment, the bottom compartment having a product compartment and a display compartment; a lid arranged to cover the bottom compartment; and a window in the lid adjacent the display compartment positioned to allow a user to view displayable items in the display compartment.
 16. A container comprising: a bottom compartment; a divider arranged to divide the bottom compartment into a product compartment and a display compartment; a lid arranged to cover the bottom compartment; and a window in the lid adjacent the display compartment positioned to allow a user to view displayable items in the display compartment. 